Good morning, Lake Charles.

Jack Clift, a 91-year-old Air Force veteran, sheltered locals at one of the city’s oldest churches this week as he and wife Sarah opened their home to those in need.

He is also writing about his decades of service to share lessons in gratitude.

Chloe Historic Cemetery at 181 Manchester Road received a $10,000 sponsorship from Amazon to help restore the site and is calling for volunteers for cleanup this weekend, Oct.

17 to Oct. 18 from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Volunteers should bring their own supplies.

Becky Byrd (retired) built a strong sense of community in Vinton for over 20 years with her creative cakes; she now enjoys time with her granddaughters while her legacy lives on in the hearts of locals.

Local Halloween and fall events include haunted attractions, trunk-or-treats, and family festivals throughout October; events like Lost Hollows (open Fridays and Saturdays) and a downtown candy crawl offer options for all ages in and near Lake Charles.

The annual Chuck Fest — one of downtown’s largest free events — starts on Saturday as Street Side Jazz Band plays at noon and Zydecane takes the Broad Street stage at 1 p.m., with family-friendly vendors and art shows adding to the local charm.

An article explains how southwest Louisiana towns, including Lake Charles, DeRidder, and Sulphur, got their names from settlers, natural features, or local legends + events, offering local readers a glimpse into their community’s unique heritage.

Lake Charles' Nellie Fest will honor jazz singer Nellie Lutcher at Nellie Lutcher Memorial Park from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, featuring the Mark Portier Trio and a Mardi Gras Museum booth.

This free event offers food trucks + non-alcoholic drinks and welcomes lawn chairs and picnic gear.

A new pollinator garden is taking root at the McNeese SEED Center as part of the Bayou Greenbelt project, with support from Phillips 66, local gardening clubs and the McNeese Biology Department to showcase 20 native species that will attract butterflies & bees to boost the local ecosystem.

A new pollinator garden is taking root at McNeese SEED Center (supporting local bees and butterflies) as project teams plan to enhance local biodiversity.

Allen+Calcasieu parishes have issued burn bans amid drought conditions and high fire danger ahead of a dry, breezy weekend.

The ban remains in effect until further notice with little rain forecast for the area.

The McNeese State Cowboys came off a bye week that allowed injured players to rest, and Coach Viator said most injuries from the LSU game are not season ending as the team prepares to play Northwestern State in Natchitoches.

Westlake sophomore Emma Stein won first place in Tulsa’s Drive, Chip and Putt competition and earned a trip to compete in the Masters in Augusta (she is proud to represent her hometown).